King is veteran of four seasons

The Champion High graduate will begin his fifth season with the Penguins.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- It's been a tough four years for senior tight end Max King with the Youngstown State football team.
King, a native of West Farmington and a graduate of Champion High, begins his fifth season with the Penguins.
After being red-shirted his freshman season in 2002, he spent the next three seasons battling injuries and battling for playing time.
His red-shirt freshman and sophomore years he spent behind All-Gateway Conference tight end Mike Roberts, and last season King found himself behind former YSU basketball standout Brian Radakovich and Aaron Marshall, who was moved from quarterback.
This year, it looked like King finally was going to get his chance, and then junior transfer Louis Irizarry strolled into camp.
"I think that it just great that Louis is here," King said. "He's a great football player and he's going to make us so much better and that's what really counts."
Four catches last year
In his first two seasons, King caught just one pass; and last year he made four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.
"I've had so much fun over the last four years and playing football with a bunch of great guys," he added.
"This spring has been exciting because everybody knows that we are a veteran team, and it seems that everybody is working that much harder because of it," King said.
King is impressed by the talent on the offensive side of the ball.
"Our offensive line is all veterans, we've got some great wide receivers and our running backs are unbelievable," King said.
"Then there's Tom Zetts at quarterback and he's another dimension all his own. Zetts has improved each year he's been here," King added. "I remember his first season as a starter and what he and the team went through, but it just kept getting better and better ... Tom has improved so much that the coaches are actually letting him make more decisions out on the field and that's going to make us that much better."
The Penguins will hold their last workout today before Friday's Red-White spring game at 7:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.